Insect trap



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,625

w. 0. ROBERTS ET AL INSECT TRAP Filed May 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inning-1......

A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 21, 1928.

w. o. ROBERTS ET AL xusscw TRAP Filed May 1a, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w wu v INVENTOR. W fi ATTORNEYS.

O/QWQWWW ZMEL Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,625

w. 0. ROBERTS Er AL INSECT TRAP Filed May 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 88 I N V EN TOR. ommg$flwwjww Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,625

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st'r inction and operationQoi' Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

*WILLIAM 0. nonnnrs, on HOUSTON, TEXAS,

orsoo, oALInoR-NIA.

msncrr Tm.

ereli ien filed. n w t This invention relates to an insect trap, andespeciallyto a trap for catching cock roaches and the like. "The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the contraps of the character described; to provide a trap which is mechanical and automatic in operation; to provide a trap into which the cockroaches intermittentlydriven and where they inay accumulate in considerable numbers; and further, "topro'vide a trap from which the cockroaches lnay'be readily removed rem time to time and destroyed.

The invention is shoxj n by way of illustration in theaocompanying drawings, in

Wli Ch+ Fig, l is a central, vert1ca1,' longitudinal seees f the. ap-. I

Qis a detail sectional v ew of the Fig. 3 is a side-elevation partially in section of one end of the tra said View. particularly illustrating the lnoter.

' Fig. l is a cross-section, taken on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cress seetion, taken on line 5-5 f'Eig.1."' V Fig; (Sis a side elevat on of trap partly broken away and partly in section; showing the motor in discharging position and the trap door in closed position. p fig. 7 is a vertical Cl'OSS-SQOtlOIl, taken on in of .Fi 3 g. 8 is a perspective View of the trap boa, said view being partly broken away to show the entrance opening.,

Fig. '9 is a perspective VlGW pf the bait tray, said View being partly. bltolienpaway to show the detail construction of the same. "Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, t m ght be stated that the .tra 3 as a whole is preferably constructed of s eet metal or like ma terial'. It consists of a casing constructed of such material in whichis formed an en trance chamber A into which the cockroaches enter from opposite ends through openings indicated at 2 and 3. Supported in the upper portion ofthe chamberA 1s abaited't'ray B. Supported on top of the bait tray is a trap box 0, and disposed above the trap boX' is a water tank 1),, the function of which will later be described.

The sheets A i Pr v e with .a bottom has? sse i e 4 end t o s 5 an 6, an ide EQti Ii id The ei le-seetionse ef ensie pw fi y a g gs en f t r p, as in t at 9 'e' d' O The e id e ns also term the sides or the tank D. The end se iei 6 forms one nd e the tan A s eve -Pie i erss he, pee te end 9f the tank, an a bo t m umera m he b m the nk; th teal; bei g h rwise provi ed with a removable cover 1?; t9 pe mi e an e be fil ed fr m im to time. A f -l t l n t r u he si e s tisms a 81s a} s an ee du' l I 11 en s f between th side 7, and 8 is a trap door 5 vhiChZi-S i erm t nt y o e ed and osed, s ll h e a erbe e i e lle t ap de s sleeve i tsepe i pesi eu in. Figsl' l 3, an n ts cl s PQ i iQn in. F g- 6- rubber mne being Pro ide t 6 and 17 t i l-ek 1 Pr d t n 9 the d r as ile t e pe ib evhee ti r pene nd los dl ier 'd a the 0111 9 1??? e f he chembe? A as an n andesce t ul an a c pe g r lec s? 1. and di pos d above th ul 01 et any on n n P in is a dry from which the bulb is inter niittently actuated. A socket 21 supporting the bulbmand the reflector is secured to the end'wall' 5 oi" the casing. An intermediate rend Wall 22 is employed and the reflector pre e s th wthfoush- A chambe 3 is t rm d w en h Well 2 1 2 and the coekroaches enter this ehember through the Ope i 3, hey en Pas t e g re 24 and from there enter the main cha n b er The cocliroaches'also enter through the opposite epening 2 and then climb over we ncl ne 2 n .1 whi h th ap door 15 wees bet ze a h n hemain cha .9 3 Th Pas a e 2i h n i li su h shown at 26, and it is covered by a plate 27, which also inclined. The side walls of the visa e P e erably onverg in a ann r s m l r t the 163Yfi l 2 YQ e ent an umb r D-9W!) n F 8 and as su h er nate in a small opening 29 through which he ree hes eu'st ess be re nally enmed- Q he be the. Open g 2 ein earners best. llu at d n F gis: The re 119K is rectangular in shape a shown i F s 8. and it is p o d d w th n e tran me er su h as at '28, which terminates in a small opening 80, and itflis a s mended w th a h nge sev r 31 which is normally secured spring latch 32.

The trap box is supported on top of the chamber A, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is there secured by a bottom latch 33. 'As this latch is the only member which secures it,

in closed position by a it may be readily removed or replaced as be employed, as'the cockroaches do-not have access to the bait and as such cannot consume it.

One of the features of the present invention to automatically close the entrance chamber [A at predetermined time intervals, and then to frighten or drive the cockroaches from the chamberup into the trap box C. This is accomplished by closing the trap door 15 and turning on the light or bulb18.

Cockroaches do not like light and in fact are frightened the moment the chamber A is suddenly illuminated, and they immedi ately attempt to escape. They cannot escape through the-opening 2, as the trap door 15 has been closed, and while they could escape through the openings 29 and 24, the opening 29 is so small that comparativelyfew, if any,

would escape in that direction. In fact, the source of light is in that end of the chamber and the cockroaches are accordingly driven to the opposite end of the chamber, where they crawl up the inclined surface of the trap door. They then crawl up a passage indicated at 40, which is incommunication with the entrance member 28 of the trap box. -The further they crawl away from the chamber A, the darker it gets, and as the trap box 'is completely dark they pass through the opening 30 and drop into the trap box, where they are caught.

The passage 40 is formed between the end of the trap box and the end 6 of the housing. The passage is provided with tapering side walls, such as shown at 41 in Fig. 7, and as these taper a comparatively small exit is provided at 42. This exit is in communication with the entrance member 28 and as this in turn hasa comparatively small exit 30 into the trap chamber, it is obvious that very few cockroaches will crawl out from the trap and return to the chamber A.

The mechanism whereby the trap door is automatically opened and closed, and whereby a circuit is automatically opened and closed through the bulb 18 will now be described.

- The shaft 14 carrying the trap door isex tended a considerable distance through the side "wallS." Secured on the extended portion 14 of the shaft is a pair of segmentalshap'ed plates '44 and 45.. (See Figs. 3, 6 and 7.) Pivotally mounted on the shaft between the segmental plates is a bucket 46.

Forming an extension on the lower endof the bucket is a plate 47, and carried by the lower end thereof is a weight 48, which in turn carries an upwardly extending rod 49 and an adjustableweight 50. The plate 45 is provided with aisegmental slot 51 and this carries an ad ustable counterwei 'ht 52.

upper end of the bucket'is provided witha cover plate L This cover is slightly in clined, as shown in Fig. 3, and it'is provided with two openings56 and 57. A drip valve 58, which is in communication with the water tank D, is mounted above the cover section of the bucket and it is sofregulated that the water discharges from the tank comparative ly slowly; for instance, drop by drop. The drops ofwater striking the cover rundown the inclined surface thereof and enter the bucket through the opening 56. The water gradually accumulates until the bucket is filled, or to a point where the weight of the discharging position shown in Fig. 6. The I water overconies'the weight of the counterbalancing members 48 and 50. The bucket then swings awayfrom the pin 53 and strikes the pin 54. .VVhen the weight of the bucket strikes the pin '54,. a turning movement is imparted to the segmental plates 44 and 45, and as these are secured to the shaft 14, as is also the trap, the shaft will rotate and the trap door will be closed, this position of the mechanism being shown in Fig. 6. The water in the bucket will then discharge through the opening 57'and this opening is so small that a predetermined time interval will lapse before'the water discharges. The

trap door thus remains closed during this period, and as'the light is turned on during this period, the cockroaches willfbe driven out of the chamber and upwardly through the passage 40, from where they enter the trap box.

retreat automatically returned, the cycle of operation being repeated and repeated until the tank D is empty. The tank may, of course, have a coi'isiderable capacity, at least sufficient to run for one day, when it may be refilled.

The water from the bucket may discharge into a pan 63 disposed on one side of the trap box, or suitable connections may be made with asewer to take care of the discharge.

When the cockroaches hat'e accumulated .in the trap chamber in a suiiicient quantity,

latch 33 is released and the trap box removed, the insects being then destroyed by drowning, burning, or as the operator may choose. The trap box is then returned and placed in position and if the water tank is filled, the trap is again in condition for operation.

The dry battery by which the bulb is operated is contained in the upper part otthe intermediate chamber 23. Contacts and 71 are provided at opposite ends, which are connected with the bulb and switch 61, contact 70 being preferably grounded to the casing, and the contact .71 insulated therefrom so that the circuit is only established when the switch is closed. The switch is of the spring type and automatically opens and breaks a circuit when the bucket returns to vertical position. A. cover 74;] is placed above the battery and when this is removed, it is a simple matter to replace the battery when run down. 7

The bait trap B is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 9. It is provided with hook-shaped side flanges and end flanges 81 and 82. It is thus supported by the side and end sectionsof the main casing and as such may be readily removed from time to time, if it is desired to renew the bait. The bait tray is also provided with a removable cover section 83.

It should be noted that overhanging flanges are provided at practically all oints or connections so as to prevent escape of light from the casing which might have a tendency to frighten away approaching cockroaches. The structure is also so arranged that no light will escape through the entrance openings 2 and 3 and that is the reason why the inclines 25 and 26 are provided. They are of such height that none of the lightrays will project through the openings 2 and 3. y f 4 The trap as a whole is asimpie and substantial in construction. The trap box and the bait tray may be readily removed from time to time; the tank is easily. refilled; the battery may be replaced at any time, and as the rest of the mechanism is automatic i operation, practically no care is required on the part of the operator. l The cockroaches are, practically speaking,continuously entering the main chamber A, and they are intermittently frightened 0r driven out of the chamber and up into the trap chamber. Accumulation of cockroaches in the entrance chamber, where they are attracted by the smell of the bait, is thus prevented, and as the capacity of the trap box is comparatively great, large numbers of cockroaches may be caught and destroyed. v While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, we wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. e similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what.

we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a chamber formed therein into which insects may enter through an entrance opening, means within the chamber to attract insects, acontainer provided with a trap chamber, means for intermittently and automatically closing the entrance opening, and means for lighting the chamber and for driving the insects into the trap chamber.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having a chamber formed therein and an entrance opening into said chamber, a trap door, means within the chamber for attracting insects, a casing having a trap chamber formed therein, means for automatically closing the trap. door to prevent escape of insects through the entrance ope11- ing, and means in one end of said chamber adapted to illuminate the chamber so as to drive the insects from the chamber into the trap chamber.

3. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a chamber chamber, and means for automatically closing the trap door to prevent escape of insects through the entrance opening, and for simultaneously closing a circuit through the electric light, said light illuminating the chamber and driving the insects therefrom into the trap box.

4, A device of the character described comprising a casing having a chamber formed therein and an entrance opening through which insects are adapted to enter,-

a bait tray Within the chamber to attract insects, a normally open trap door cooperchamber,-a source of "Water supply, a water t motor driven thereby, and means actuated by the motor for intermittently opening and closing the trap door, and for simultaneouslyopemng and closing a c rcuit through the electric light.

VILLIAM O. ROBERTS. ROBERT J. KEAYS. 

